Life vest preserver



Dec. 18, 1962 B. R. slLvERMAN ETAL 3,068,500

LIFE vEsT PREsERvER Filed oct. fr. 1960 s sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 18, 1962B. R. slLvERMAN ETAL 3,058,500

LIFE VEST PRESERVER Filed 00T.. 7, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 18, 1962B. R. SILVERMAN ETAL 3,068,500

LIFE VEST PRESERVER Filed Oct. 7, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 7l KEW/wm]Q//ermao ff gf/ J QW# Patented Dec. 18, 1962 hfice 3,068,500 'LIFE VESTPRESERVER Bernard R. Silverman, Elkins Park, Robert I. Carroll, NewtownSquare, and Albert E. Simkins and Sohn Dr Gea-mbeardino, Philadelphia,Pa., and .lerorne L. `iones, Richwoed, NJ., assigncrs to the UnitedStates of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Oct.7, Bott, Ser. No. 61,327 Claims. (El. 9333) (Granted under Titia 35, US.Code 1952), sec. 25d) The invention described herein may be manufacturedand used by or for the Government of the United States of America forgovernmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon ortherefor.

This invention relates to pneumatic life preservers having special usefor ,aviators and particularly to those preservers which when iniiatedat the moment of need will keep a wearers head and shoulders afloat.

An inflatable vest opening down the chest and having a collar .at theback of the neck is a construction common to such life preservers. Theyare, in effect, U-shaped inflatable tubes that drape around the neck sothat their legs pass over the shoulders and extend downwardly on thechest to about the waist of the wearer. Straps are utilized for joiningthe legs together and for keeping the vest on the wearer.

In these preservers, the opening defined by the neck hole and theseparation between the legs, which is connected to the neck hole, is,thus, in the form of a key hole, that is, a circle, through which thehead extends, with a radial slot extending from it. The edges thatoutline the junctures of the circle and slot are rather pointed anddisposed at the throat; with inflation of the vest they are forcedtoward the throat tending to choke the wearer.

The choking condition is aggravated by the propensity 'E of the legs toroll inwardly toward each other under iniiation which also reduces thesize of the neck hole. A partial solution is obtained by use of a largerneck hole and rounding of the points. This, however, is at the expenseof neck snugness and at the risk of losing the preserver by its risingover the head.

The present invention has a purpose of providing a life preserver whichwill obviate the disadvantages alluded to; which has similar,independently inflatable compartments; which is comfortable to wearwhether deflated or inflated; which has a novel quick-adjustingfastening harness that avoids chest restriction and permits liftingthereby of the wearer; which requires no casing to hold bladders thereinand thus has no problem of keeping them in any desired fixedrelationship and is not hampered with water logging of the casing; whichhas an unbroken frontal portion on which pockets for holdingaccessories, or a buoyant material for added buoyancy, can convenientlybe located; which has a construction that permits seclusion of theinflating containers to the protective area between the compartments andyet allows ready accessibility for their actuation; and which requiresno unusual manufacturing techniques and on the contrary lends itself toeasy production.

Other features of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription of the embodiments selected for illustration.

In the drawings,

FIGURE l is a front or plan View of one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a back view of the preserver of FIG. l showing the anchoringharness;

FIGURE 3 is a side view;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 5 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 of FIGURE 2; f

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view of a modification of theinvention;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 showing one compartment orallyinated and the other mechanically.

Referring to the drawing in general, 10 designates the life preserver,which is shown to have two overlying, individually inflatable envelopesor lobes (FIG. 3), a top lobe 12 and a bottom lobe 14, respectively,with aligned neck holes, 15 and 15, through which the head is inerted,and a fastening harness 16 (FIG. 2). The preserver is designed to beworn on the shoulders and over the chest, apron fashion, and to be heldin position by the harness which is disposed along the wearers back andaround his waist.

Describing the structure in detail, it should be noted that the lobes 12and 14 are of similar size and shape and that each has, what may betermed, a collar portion 1S and a chest portion 19. The general shape isrectangular, in plan view, with rounded corners, though this is modifiedby a narrowing at the collar portion by side indentations 2t? and 2d andfurther variedbv the neck hole 15 which is disposed in it. The narrowingis meant to permit comfort and freedom of arm motion to the wearer;nevertheless, it is not pronounced to the extent that there is anextreme lack of firmness at the connectiony between the collar and chestportions, otherwise there would be little resistance to twisting betweenthem and, under certain conditions, the wearer .may be strangled shouldtwisting take place,

The shape of the neck hole is an oval that has its trough directedforward. This shape is preferred because of its lack of angularity `andits smooth conformity around the neck and throat to provide snuggnesswithout choking. When the lobe is deflated, the neck hole has suficientsize to pass a wearers head.

Each lobe (FIGS. 4 and 5), 12 or 14, has a front panel 22 and a backpanel 24 of flexible, gas impermeable material, such asa chloroprenecoated nylon or a rubber coated fabric. The marginal edges around theouter periphery and the neck hole of the panels 22 and 24 are joinedtogether by a suitable adhesive and covered with tapes Z6. A continuouscompartment 28 is thus formed between the chest and collar portion inthe lobe.

The lobes 12 and 14 are held to one another in their overlyingarrangement by means of a gusset 29 that circurnscribes the neck hole, agusset 30 around the outer margin of the collar, and a pair of sidegussets, 31 and 31 at the chest portion 19. The gussets are rectangularstrips of fabric or other material that are lapped over the edges of thelobes and adhered thereto, as shown in FIGURE 4 with respect to thegusset around the neck hole. It is preferred that side gussets 31 and 31do not extend ,along the whole vertical side of the chest portion;instead, they should cover only its center third as seen in FIG, l. Thispermits access to the area between the lobes. No gussets are presentedat the horizontal front side 32 of the panels, since it is desirablethat the lobes be permitted to expand to their full extent at thislocation to give added stability in water.

It is apparent that the upper surface of the chest portion of thepreserver is clear and thus is a ready space for theprovision ofpockets, such as P, for carrying accessortes.

rIhe compartment 28 in each of the lobes 12 and 14 may be inflatedeither mechanically from a cylinder of compressed carbon dioxide ororally. For the first mentioned purpose, the back panel 24 of the toplobe 12 has a tubular inliation stern 34 affixed to its inner surfaceand projecting through it. On the outer surface of the position of themechanical carbon dioxide inator.

its ends and at a spaced distance from each other.

e,oes,soo

back panel, in the space between the lobes, the stem 34 carries a carbondioxide cylinder 36 which can be made fore a description is believedunnecessary. The frontV panel 22 of the bottom lobe 14 is similarlyprovided with a carbon dioxide inllating device. It is apparent that thecarbon dioxide inflating apparatii for both lobes 12 and 14 are hiddenbetween them, yet they are accessible for actuation from the openforward side 32 of the preserver.

For oral inatiomeach lobe has a rubber tube 40 with a valve 38. Thetubes 40 and 40 are disposed on the outer surfaces of the lobes asdistinguished from the Thus, in the case of the upper lobe 12 the tube40 is on top of panel 22 where it is held in the ready position by akeeper 44. The bottom panel 24 of lower lobe 14 is similarly provided.

The preserver is held in place on the wearer by a harness 16 which hastwo parallel vertical back straps V45, and 45, a horizontal cross strap46 and a horizontal waist strap 47. The back straps, which are of aboutthe same length as that of the chest portion of the preservers lobes,extend down the sides of the wearers back and are secured, by stitching48, at one end to the underside of the lower lobe 14 at points near therear corners of the preservers collar portion. The other ends of theback straps are stitched to the waist strap 47 intermediate The crossstrap 46 is similarly stitched at its ends to the back straps; it keepsthe back straps properly located by preventing their separation.

Each end of the waist strap 47 is joined through a buckle 5.0 to abuckling strap 52 that carries an ordinary swivel type snap hook orconnector 54.V The connector v54 is attachable to a D-ring S6 carried onthe end of an ware that is a metal plate having three cut-outs S9, 60,'

and 61 which separate four crossbars 62, 63, 64 and 65.

The end of the waist strap 47 and that of the buckling strap 52 arejoined to the buckle in the usual manner. ri`hus, in the case of thewaist strap the end is passed through the central cutout 66 from theunderside of the buckle, over the outer side of the central crossbar 63through the Vcut-out 59 and under the vcrossbar 62. A similar connectionis madeV between the buckling strap 52 and the buckle 59 utilizing thecut-outs 60 and 61.

The other end of Vthe buckling strap 52 islooped through an eye 66 ofthe hook or connector 54. Both ends of the buckling strap are stitchedsecurely as shown at 67 and 67 to prevent their unreeving.

The ends of the waist strap 47 are free. A pull on the waist strap. Thereverse is obtained by working the strap back through the buckles. Toavoid dangling, snap buttons 68 and 68 are positioned on the waist strap47 which cooperate with studs 69 and 69 on the anchor strap. ln FIGURE.7. both waist straps are shown'unbuttoned from the studs on the anchorstrap and dangling freely.

In addition to the harness described, a hoist strap 70 is furnished bywhich a wearer may be lifted or towed. This comprises a strap secured atits ends at the same points on the collar portion of the preserver towhich the ends of the harness back straps are fastened. The strap `hassuicient length to form a loop which will normally extend beyond the endof the preservers collar portion to about the middle of the wearersback. As in the case of the ends on the waist strap, dangling of thehoist strap is avoided by snaps 71 and 72 by which it may be held inposition under the preserver.

. same reference characters.

In use, the preserver, deilated, is donned by the wearer who slips hishead through the neck hole and permitting the harness to hang down hisback. The snap hooks S4. and 5ft are then joined to the anchoringD-rings 56 and S6. The waist belt 47 will passloosely around the waistand under the rib cage. Proper adjustment is obtained by pulling an endof the waist strap outwardly through the buckle Si?. As the preserver isinilated by either of the means shown, it will assume a shape thatconforms to the wearers configuration. The size of the neck open ingwill decrease with inflation but without a choking effect.

ln FIGURES 7 and 8, a modiiication of the invention is presented withequivalent elements identied by the It is essentially similar to thatdescribed and differs only in the provision of an inner panel 74 in eachof the intlating lobes l?. and 14. The panel i4 is formed from a gasimpermeable, flexible, ef;- tensible material, for instance, rubber. tis disposed bctween the lobes panels 22 and 24 so as to form twosuperi'nposed inilation compartments 76 and 7d within each lobe. rlhemechanical inflating devices 36 and 36 are communicatively connected tothe inner compartments 7S and 7S. The oral inflating tubes 4G and et?,on the other hand, communicate with the outer compartments 76 and 76.

With this construction inflation of a compartment 7S mechanically or bythe carbon dioxide device will cause the dividing panel 74 to stretchinto the compartment as shown with respect to the lobe l2 in FIGURE 8.Similarly, the panel 74 will occupy the position shown by the lobe i inFIGURE 8 should a compartment 76 be orally inflated. Inllation of thepreserver may be produced rnechanically, orally or by use of bothmethods.

The advantage offered by the modication lies in the protection to thewalls forming the inner compartments 7S and 78. Puncture of the panel 22of the top lobe l2 01 panel 24 of the lower lobe i4 does not reduce thepreserver to uselessness, and this is otbained Without any reduction inbuoyancy to the preserver.

Obviously various changes in the details, Lmaterials and arrangement ofparts, which have been described and illustrated in order to explain thenature of the invention,

. may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scopeof the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A life preserver comprising an overlying lobe and an underlying lobe,each having an inllation compartment and ya collar portion and a chestportion, each of Said lobes including a pair of superimposed wallforming panels substantially rectangular in shape of flexiblenon-extensible gas impermeable material having a head inserting openingof oval shape and being sealed together at their marginal edges, gussetssecuring said lobes together around the priphery of the head opening, onthe outer periphery of the h portion and sides of said chest portion,mechanical inflation means disposed between said lobes for inflationthereof through their opposed inner panels, oral ination means disposedon the outer sides of said preserver for inliation of said lobes throughtheir outer panels, and a harness including a waist strap adatped topass around the lback of a wearer beneath the rib cage and to beremovably secured at its ends to the chest portion of said preserver, apair of vertical back straps secured at one end to the underside of'said underlying lotbe at said collar portion and at the other end tosaid waist strap intermediate its ends, and a cross strap secured at itsends to said back straps intermediate their ends for restraining theirseparation.

2. The preserver of claim l including accessory pockets secured to thetop side of said preserver across the chest portion thereof.

3. The Vpreserver or" claim l including a buckle adjustably securing theends of said waist strap to said chest portion.

4. The preserver of claim l wherein each of said lobes includes alongitudinal Wall of flexible extensible gas mpermeable materialdividing said compartment into oral and mechanical inilation portions sothat either lobe may ybe inated mechanically in the event of a puncturedouter panel of said preserver.

5. The preserver of claim l including a hoist strap secured at its endsto the underside of said underlying lobe at said collar portion.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS SalamanNov. 25, 1919 Lawler Dec. 11, 1923 Sturtevant May 16, 1950 Hurt Apr. 24,1951 Sabo Aug. 30, 1960 Moran Oct. 3, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS France Nov.4, 1953

